The Ohio county sheriff and his tiny police canine had been inseparable, their lives unwaveringly intertwined.It thus appears becoming that retired Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland, 67, and his crime-fighting companion Midge, 16, would each die on Wednesday — McClelland, at a hospital after a prolonged battle with most cancers and Midge, a couple of hours later at house, maybe of a damaged coronary heart.McClelland retired on the finish of 2016 after 13 years as sheriff on this semi-rural county east of Cleveland. He spent 44 years complete with the Geauga County Sheriff’s Workplace and a decade alongside Midge, a drug-sniffing Chihuahua-rat terrier combine licensed by Guinness World Data in 2006 because the smallest police canine on the globe.He and Midge — however particularly Midge — had been rock stars in Geauga County. Wherever McClelland went, Midge was by his aspect. On the workplace, she would nap on a canine mattress beside his desk. Schoolchildren had been enthralled throughout their visits.McClelland’s successor, Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand, recollects driving a golf cart with McClelland and Midge within the passenger seat on the Nice Geauga County Honest. He mentioned it was a sluggish journey as folks flocked to them, petting and fussing over Midge.”He used to joke that individuals would see him in a parade in a automobile and would say, ‘Hey, there’s Midge and whatshisname,'” Hildenbrand mentioned. “I believe she was extra well-liked than him.”Retired Lt. John Hiscox, a longtime spokesperson for the sheriff’s workplace, put it this fashion: “It was like bringing Elvis Presley to the halfway.”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Regardless of her dimension, Midge was no slouch when it got here to her job. It was McClelland who determined that Midge, the runt of her litter, would make a great drug-sniffing canine. In contrast to giant and extra aggressive police canines, the mild-mannered Midge would search autos with out tearing up upholstery or leaving muddy footprints. Looking out beneath autos was by no means an issue. Their partnership led to appearances on daytime tv discuss reveals and mentions in nationwide magazines, together with Playboy. She maintained her Okay-9 certifications till their joint retirement.Hildenbrand mentioned he was shocked when McClelland determined to retire and start touring the nation in a leisure car together with his spouse, Beverly, and, in fact, Midge.”He spent 44 years defending folks on this county and, fairly frankly, he liked his job, each minute of it,” Hildenbrand mentioned. “I believed he’d by no means retire.”McClelland was a very good chief who at all times had the perfect curiosity of the county and neighborhood in thoughts, Hiscox mentioned.”He was truthful and was not afraid to decide,” Hiscox mentioned. “He was at all times prepared to pay attention, however when he decided it was ultimate.”The household mentioned McClelland and Midge might be buried collectively.
The Ohio county sheriff and his tiny police canine had been inseparable, their lives unwaveringly intertwined.
It thus appears becoming that retired Geauga County Sheriff Dan McClelland, 67, and his crime-fighting companion Midge, 16, would each die on Wednesday — McClelland, at a hospital after a prolonged battle with most cancers and Midge, a couple of hours later at house, maybe of a damaged coronary heart.
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McClelland retired on the finish of 2016 after 13 years as sheriff on this semi-rural county east of Cleveland. He spent 44 years complete with the Geauga County Sheriff’s Workplace and a decade alongside Midge, a drug-sniffing Chihuahua-rat terrier combine licensed by Guinness World Data in 2006 because the smallest police canine on the globe.
He and Midge — however particularly Midge — had been rock stars in Geauga County. Wherever McClelland went, Midge was by his aspect. On the workplace, she would nap on a canine mattress beside his desk. Schoolchildren had been enthralled throughout their visits.
McClelland’s successor, Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand, recollects driving a golf cart with McClelland and Midge within the passenger seat on the Nice Geauga County Honest. He mentioned it was a sluggish journey as folks flocked to them, petting and fussing over Midge.
“He used to joke that individuals would see him in a parade in a automobile and would say, ‘Hey, there’s Midge and whatshisname,'” Hildenbrand mentioned. “I believe she was extra well-liked than him.”
Retired Lt. John Hiscox, a longtime spokesperson for the sheriff’s workplace, put it this fashion: “It was like bringing Elvis Presley to the halfway.”
Regardless of her dimension, Midge was no slouch when it got here to her job. It was McClelland who determined that Midge, the runt of her litter, would make a great drug-sniffing canine.
In contrast to giant and extra aggressive police canines, the mild-mannered Midge would search autos with out tearing up upholstery or leaving muddy footprints. Looking out beneath autos was by no means an issue.
Their partnership led to appearances on daytime tv discuss reveals and mentions in nationwide magazines, together with Playboy. She maintained her Okay-9 certifications till their joint retirement.
Hildenbrand mentioned he was shocked when McClelland determined to retire and start touring the nation in a leisure car together with his spouse, Beverly, and, in fact, Midge.
“He spent 44 years defending folks on this county and, fairly frankly, he liked his job, each minute of it,” Hildenbrand mentioned. “I believed he’d by no means retire.”
McClelland was a very good chief who at all times had the perfect curiosity of the county and neighborhood in thoughts, Hiscox mentioned.
“He was truthful and was not afraid to decide,” Hiscox mentioned. “He was at all times prepared to pay attention, however when he decided it was ultimate.”
The household mentioned McClelland and Midge might be buried collectively.
